What happens if you have insomnia

Various lifestyle choices can bring about sleeping problems: Keeping the brain stimulated until late in the evening, such as by working late, playing video games, or using other electronic devices. Napping late in the afternoon can throw off your sleep timing and make it hard to fall asleep at night. Using your bed for activities besides sleep can create mental associations between your bed and wakefulness. Sign up below for your free gift.

Your privacy is important to us. Was this article helpful? Yes No. Alex Dimitriu Psychiatrist MD. Sateia M. International classification of sleep disorders-third edition: highlights and modifications. Chest, 5 , — Roth T.

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Autism and sleep disorders. Many of them are linked to your daily habits, lifestyle, and personal circumstances. These include:. There are many strategies for treating insomnia. Before you talk to your doctor about medications, try making lifestyle changes. Medications provide effective short-term results, but long-term use is associated with mortality. Higher melatonin levels make you feel sleepier, but too much can disrupt your sleep cycle and cause headaches, nausea, and irritability.

Adults can take between 1 and 5 milligrams, an hour before bed. Talk to your doctor about dosage before taking melatonin, especially for children. You can also try a combination of the therapies listed above. Your doctor will look for underlying causes and may prescribe sleep medication. Read more: Lunesta vs. Ambien ». As part of the diagnostic process, your doctor will likely perform a physical exam and ask you about your symptoms. They will also want to know about any medications you take and your overall medical history.

If there is, your doctor will treat that condition first. Kliger B, et al. American Family Physician. Bonnet MH, et al. Clinical features and diagnosis of insomnia. Bonnet MH, et al, Treatment of insomnia. Cassoff J, et al. Evaluating the effectiveness of the Motivating Teens To Sleep More program in advancing bedtime in adolescents: A randomized control trial. BMC Psychology. About AASM accredited facilities.

American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Buysse DJ. Olson EJ expert opinion. Sateia M. Chronic insomnia disorder. In: International Classification of Sleep Disorders. Darien, Ill. Related Ambien: Is dependence a concern? Privacy Policy. Insomnia is the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep at night, resulting in unrefreshing or non-restorative sleep. Chronic insomnia can even contribute to serious health problems.

Some people struggle to get to sleep no matter how tired they are. Others wake up in the middle of the night and lie awake for hours, anxiously watching the clock.

But, because different people need different amounts of sleep, insomnia is defined by the quality of your sleep and how you feel after sleeping—not the number of hours you sleep or how quickly you doze off.

Although insomnia is the most common sleep complaint, it is not a single sleep disorder. The good news is that most cases of insomnia can be cured with changes you can make on your own—without relying on sleep specialists or turning to prescription or over-the-counter sleeping pills.

Symptoms of insomnia include: Difficulty falling asleep despite being tired. Waking up frequently during the night. Trouble getting back to sleep when awakened.

Unrefreshing sleep. Relying on sleeping pills or alcohol to fall asleep. Waking up too early in the morning. Daytime drowsiness, fatigue, or irritability. Difficulty concentrating during the day. Emotional issues such as stress, anxiety, and depression cause half of all insomnia cases. But your daytime habits, sleep routine, and physical health may also play a role.

Try to identify all possible causes of your insomnia. Once you figure out the root cause, you can tailor treatment accordingly. Are you under a lot of stress? Are you depressed? Do you feel emotionally flat or hopeless? Do you struggle with chronic feelings of anxiety or worry?

Have you recently gone through a traumatic experience? Are you taking any medications that might be affecting your sleep? Do you have any health problems that may be interfering with sleep? Is your bedroom quiet and comfortable?

Do you try to go to bed and get up around the same time every day? Common psychological and medical causes of insomnia Sometimes, insomnia only lasts a few days and goes away on its own, especially when it is tied to an obviously temporary cause, such as stress over an upcoming presentation, a painful breakup, or jet lag.

Other times, insomnia is stubbornly persistent. Chronic insomnia is usually tied to an underlying mental or physical issue. Anxiety, stress, and depression are some of the most common causes of chronic insomnia. Having difficulty sleeping can also make anxiety, stress, and depression symptoms worse. Other common emotional and psychological causes include anger , worry, grief, bipolar disorder, and trauma.